Office 365 Vs. Google Apps: Top 10 Enterprise Concerns

Is Microsoft Office 365 ready to rumble with the ease of use and lower cost of archrival Google Apps? Consider this point-by-point comparison for enterprises.

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Office 365 works with Windows Phone, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Symbian, Android, and BlackBerry. Email's not generally a problem on any device, but "works with" and "works well" are two different things where other apps are concerned. We don't see the sense in reserving "the best experience" (meaning device-native apps) for Windows Phone, as Microsoft says it will favor, when the market is dominated by iPhone and Android. And when it comes to the iPad, Microsoft's tightly packed ribbon interfaces are downright touch-navigation unfriendly. Google is doing a better job of delivering usable interfaces for tablets.

Software as a service is the clear No. 1 way enterprises consume cloud. InformationWeek's SaaS Innovation Survey reveals three tips to get the most from SaaS: Make it a popularity contest. Have an escape plan. And remember that identity is the new perimeter.